Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GOLF GLOVE WITH TEE HOLDER
~a~k5~round of the Invention
Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with an improved golf glove which provides
convenient, compact, and readily-accessible storage for golf tees and a ball marker. More
particularly, it is concerned with a golf glove having a hand-receiving glove portion, a tee
holder of elastic or any other suitable material, and a retainer into which a ball marker may be
5 easily inserted and removed using one hand.
D~ tion of the Related Art
Golf is a popular sport enjoyed around the world by millions of people of all ages.
10 Players use clubs to sink a ball with as few strokes as possible into each of the nine or eighteen
successive holes on a course. Players commonly wear spiked shoes to avoid t1~m~ging the
greens and to maintain stance, as well as a golf glove on one hand to facilitate gripping the
club. The game is normally played by groups of one to four golfers, who commence play
towards each of the holes by driving the ball from a tee. Since golf courses schedule tee off
15 times closely, to permit as many groups as possible to play in a day, it is desirable to play as
expeditiously as possible.
Golfers have long been faced with the difficulties of transporting tees and ball markers
around the links and keeping them conveniently at hand while leaving their hands free to play
the game.
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Although the golf bag generally used to transport the clubs includes pockets in which a
supply of tees and markers may be stored and transported, such pockets are not well suited for
providing easy access to small items. Even if a player were willing to walk to the bag and
rummage through the pockets to obtain a tee, the process might have to be repeated if the tee
5 were damaged while driving the ball, as it is sometimes necessary for a player to use more than
one ball at a tee. In such cases repeated rl-mm~ging through the bag for additional tees would
be required, thus slowing the game. While a golfer could retrieve several tees from the bag
before teeing up, a storage problem would arise at the tee, since the hands must be kept free to
grip the club during the drive.
Use of pockets in the golfer's clothing is similarly nn~ti~f~ctQry. Items stored in the
shirt pockets may fall out and be lost when the player bends to tee up or place a marker. Tees
and markers are too sharp to be suitable for comfortable trouser pocket storage.
Previous devices have allelllpled to provide storage containers for tees, markers, and golf
tools but do not provide a golf glove including ~cces~ihle open holders for individual tees and
markers of conventional construction which permit easy one-handed removal and replacement.
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,993,613 issued to Frisbie and 4,736,877 issued to Clark require attachment
to a player's golf bag or belt. U.S. Patent No. 5,003,637 issued to Lonon describes a closed,
relatively bulky utility container for attachment to a golf glove. U.S. Patent No. 3,847,110
issued to Inoue describes a golf score indicator for ~tt~hment to a golf glove. U.S. Patent
Nos. 4,639,947 and 4,489,444 issued to Lanscioni and Graham respectively, disclose a golf
glove having an apel~ule flap which may be opened for access to a ball marker. U.S. Patent
No. 3,588,917 discloses a golf glove having hook-and-loop material for holding a marker fitted
with complementary material. Heretofore there has not been available a golf glove having a
holder for tees and a ball marker with the advantages of the present invention.
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Summary of the Invention
The present invention overcomes the problems previously outlined and provides a
greatly improved golf glove having holders for tees and a ball marker. Broadly speaking, the
5 glove includes a series of channels for securing tees to the glove in side-by-side relationship,
and a retainer into which a ball marker may be easily inserted by sliding.
In particularly plef~lled forms, the golf glove includes an overlapping flap type closure
and the tee-holder is mounted atop the flap. In still other preferred forms,
the marker retainer is coupled with the tee-holder and includes a slot for holding the marker
10 base overlying the tee-holder with the tang projecting outwardly.
Objects and Advant~es of the Invention
The principal objects and advantages of the present invention include: providing golf
15 tee and ball marker storage which is open and readily accessible to a golfer; providing such
storage in which each item is separately secured; providing such storage which is compact and
light weight; providing a golf glove which provides such storage; providing such a golf glove
which permits easy, one-handed access to tees and markers for removal and replacement;
providing such a golf glove which includes tee-holding channels of elastic or other suitable
20 material; providing such a golf glove which includes a pocket for receiving a ball marker;
providing such a golf glove which includes a pocket having a slot for slidably receiving a ball
marker and for holding the marker in the pocket with the tang projecting outwardly from the
slot; providing such a golf glove having a pocket with an opening oriented to permit the
centrifugal force of the swing to force the marker inwardly into the holder; and providing a
25 golf glove which can be easily modified to provide such storage.
212B1 6~
According to the present invention, there is provided a combination golf glove/holder for
holding golf tees and for holding a ball marker, having a disc-shaped marker base and a marker
tang projecting therefrom, comprising: (a) a glove including finger-receiving portions coupled
with a body having a palm portion and a back portion presenting first and second segments
adjacent a glove opening, one of said back segments including a flap member having f~tening
means for f~t~ning means for f~t~ning said first and second back segments in closed
relationship to said glove opening; (b) said flap member including a first layer presenting a first
fastening surface, a surface layer, a third tee-ret~ining layer including elongate channels
prese~ g spaced openings at opposed ends for receiving golf teens therein, and an outermost
covering layer; (c) said channels including elastic tee-retaining means for receiving and
securing said tees to said glove in side-by-side relationships; (d) ball marker ret~ining means
including a pocket having an opening and a slot coupled with said opening, said ball marker
ret~ining means slidably receiving and securing said marker base overlying said channels with
said marker tang projecting outwardly from said ball marker retaining means and slidably
positioned within said slot; (e) said ball marker retaining means pocket opening being oriented
in a first d*ection proximal to the body of a wearer of said glove and away from said finger-
receiving portions to permit centrifugal force directed to urge said marker in said centrifugal
force direction, into said pocket and toward said finger-receiving portions; and said marker
r~lainillg means being coupled with said covering layer.
Also according to the present invention, there is provided an invention of claim 3 which
includes; (a) said tee-ret~ining layer forming multiple, juxtaposed channels each adapted for
receiving a respective golf tee.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a combination golf
glove/holder for holding a golf tee, which comprises; (a) a glove including finger-receiving
portions coupled with a body having a palm portion and a back pleselllillg first and second
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segm~nt~ adjacent a hand opening, one of said back portion segments including a flap member
having f~ctçning means for fastening said first and second back portion segments in a closed
relationship to said hand opening; (b) said flap member including a first layer prese,lling a first
f~t~ning surface, a second layer, and a third tee-ret~ining layer including an elongate channel
5 presenting openings at opposed ends for receiving golf tees therein; (c) said f~tçning means
comprises a hook-and-loop fastener with a hook portion mounted on one of said flap member
and said other back portion segment and a loop portion mounted on the other of said flap
member and said other back portion segment; (d) said tee-ret~ining layer comprising an elastic
material attached to said flap member on an outer surface thereof by a plurality of stitch lines,
10 each said stitch line ext~ntling through said elastic materiaI, said flap member and one of said
hook-and-loop portions; (e) said stitch lines extçn-ling in parallel relation in a direction
generally longitudinally aligned with said finger-receiving and retaining said tee therein; and (g)
said elastic material of said tee-ret~ining layer having a stretched configuration with said flap
member fastened to said glove back portion and a relaxed configuration with said flap member
15 tli~çng~ged from said glove back portion.
Still further, according to the present invention, there is provided a combination golf
glove/holder for holding a ball marker having a marker base and marker tang, which
combination golf glove/holder comprises: (a) said glove including finger-receiving portions
coupled with a body having a palm portion and a back portion presenting first and second
20 segments adjacent a hand opening, one of said back portion segments including a flap member
having fastening means for f~tçning said first and second back portion segments in closed
relationship to said hand opening, said f~t~ning means comprising a hook-and-loop f~t~ner
with a hook portion mounted on one said flap member and the other back portion segment and
a loop portion mounted on the other of said flap member and the other back portion segment;
25 (b) said flap member including a first layer presenting a first fastening surface with one of said
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fA~tçner portions, a second layer, and a third marker-retaining layer; (c) ball marker retaining
means associated with said marker-retAining layer and including a pocket having an opening
and a slot coupled with said ball marker retAining means pocket opening, said ball marker
r~inillg means slidably receiving and securing said marker base overlying said flap member
with said marker tang projecting outwardly from said ball marker retaining means and slidably
positioned within said slot.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following
description taken in conjunction with the accolllpallyillg drawings wherein are set forth, by way
of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.
The drawings con~lilule a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments
of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
Brief Des ;l,lion of the D.,.~
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the golf glove of the present invention showing
golf tees and a ball marker in place in respective holders;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentAry plan view of the glove of Fig. 1, with parts broken
away for clarity;
Fig. 3 is a cross section taken generally along line 3 - 3 of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 4 is a cross section taken generally along line 4 - 4 of Fig. 2.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;25 however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the
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invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and
functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for
the claims and as a l~rese.ll~ e basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ
the present invention in virtually any appropliately detailed structure.
Introduction and Environment
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in
reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words "upwardly", "downwardly",
"righlw~dly~ and "leftwardly" will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is
10 made. The words "inwardly" and "oulw~.lly" will refer to directions toward and away from,
respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and design~ted parts
thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof
and words of a similar import.
Referring now to the drawing, a golf glove with tee holder 10 in accordance with the
invention includes a glove 12, having fingers 14, a thumb 15, a body 16, and closure assembly
18. A tee holder 20 is attached to closure assembly 18 and a ball marker holder 22 is disposed
above tee holder 20.
In more detail, glove 12 is of flexible construction, preferably of leather and is
perforated with ventilation holes 24 on the dorsal surface of fingers 14. In preferred
embo-liment~, both dorsal and ventral finger surfaces are perforated. In certain embodiments
the dorsal thumb surface may be perforated as well. Glove body 16 includes a ventral, palmar
surface 26, and a dorsal, back surface 28 which is divided by an opening 30 into a lateral
portion 32 adjacent the thumb 15 and a medial portion 34. Opening 30 is reinforced with
piping 36 at the margins.
Glove closure assembly 18 includes a generally rectangular area of fabric loop fastener
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m~t~riAl 38, attached to lateral back surface 32 by a row of marginal stitching 40. A generally
rectangular flap 42 is coupled with medial portion 34 so as to overlie f~ct~ner material 38 in
mating engagement when in the closed position. Flap 42 includes an inner surface 44 of fabric
loop fastener material and an outer surface 46 joined by a row of marginal stitching 48. In
other embodiments, snaps, buttons, or any other suitable closure devices may be substituted for
fabric loop fastener material or hook and loop fasteners in closure assembly 18.Tee holder 20 includes a band 50 mounted atop flap 42 by spaced rows of stitching 52
which form tee-receiving channels 54, presenting a pair of open ends 55. In other preferred
embo-liment~, band 50 may be mounted on glove 12 at any suitable location. Band 50 may be
constructed of elastic or any other suitable material, such as, for example, woven synthetic
fabric having a warp of rubberized filaments. Tees 56 each include a head 58, shaft, 60, and
tapered end 62 and may be of wood, plastic, metal, or any other suitable material. An outer
covering 64 is secured over band 50 by a row of marginal stitching 66.
Ball marker holder 22 includes a generally circular pocket 68 secured to tee holder outer
covering 64 by a row of marginal stitrl~ing 70. In other embodiments, pocket 68 may be
mounted directly to glove 12 at any suitable location and may be of any geometric
configuration suitable to accommodate a ball marker. In still other embol1iment~, more than
one pocket may be employed. Pocket 68 is notched to present a slot 72 presel,lh~g proximally
oriented converging curved edges 74 and distally oriented curvate end 76 to accommodate a
marker 78 having a generally disk shaped base 80 coupled with a tang 82. In other
embo-liment~, marker 78 may be of any suitable geometric configuration. Pocket 68 may be
constructed of leather, synthetic resin, non woven synthetic fabric, cotton, or any other flexible
material and may be imprinted, embroidered, or otherwise marked with a logo or design.
In other preferred embo(liment~, glove 12 includes tee holder 20, but not marker holder
22. Rows of stitching 40, 48, 52, 66, and 70 may be single or multiple, and gluing may be
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substituted for stitching where suitable. Where the components to be joined are of synthetic
resinous material, fusion welding may be employed.
In use, a tee 56 is inserted into open end 55 of golf glove channel 54 by introducing
tapered end 62 under band 50 and sliding shaft 60 into channel 54. Additional tees are inserted
5 in side-by-side relationship in the adjacent channels 54. Tees may be inserted from either end
of channels 54, according to user prer~lence, or they may be alt~rn~ted head-to-end in order to
facilitate access to the heads for removal. As best shown in Fig. 4, band S0 urges channel ends
SS downwardly against outer flap surface 46 until a tee 56 is inserted into channel 54.
Tees 56 can be oriented with heads 58 facing the proximal side of the band and with ends 62
10 facing the distal side to permit the centrifugal force of the swing to force the tees distally into
channels 54, with heads 58 serving as stops. However, band S0 secures the tees in place
regardless of their orientation.
As tee 56 is introduced, band 50 stretches, tightly eng;~gin~ the tee against flap surface
46 and securing it against loss. In preferred embodiments, channel 54 will stretch to
15 accommodate tees of varying (iimen.~ions. A tee is removed by grasping the head 58 and
sliding outwardly.
A ball marker 78 is inserted into holder 22 by sliding the base 80 past converging slot
edges 74, along slot 72, and into pocket 68 with the tang 72 projecting outwardly through the
slot until it contacts distal end 80, which serves as a stop. Pocket 68 engages base 76 against
20 flap covering 64 in supporting relationship. During the swing, centrifugal forces act to urge
marker 74 into pocket 68 and tang 72 towards end 76. A marker is easily removed for use at
the next hole by grasping the projecting tang 72, which serves as a handle, and sliding the base
outwardly from the pocket 68 along slot 72.
Advantageously, a golf glove of conventional construction may be easily modified to
25 include holders 20, 22. Moreover, the golf glove with tee holder of the present invention
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obviates the need for additional accessories for tee and marker storage, such as belt mounted
carriers and the like. The convenient location of tees 56 and ball marker 78 permits frequent,
easy one-handed removal and replacement in the respective holders, 20, 22 during the course of
the game. It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been
5 illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of
parts described and shown.
